Digital Breakout Tools

“Digital Breakouts” are similar to the physical game, where students use clues to try to open locks. However, in a Digital Breakout, the students input the lock codes online, usually into a Google Form, rather than using tangible locks. One of our NEISD Instructional Technology Specialists, Heather Miller (@SATechieTeacher) recently used this technique for a PD she presented to our staff, and inspired me to try to create a few of my own for my students. This “Fibonacci Thief” DBO (I’m guessing it was designed by a Mrs. VanKirk in Milton SD based on the URL) is an example of a Digital Breakout that uses Google Forms embedded in a Google Site.

If you haven’t used Google Sites, don’t be intimidated. You can actually make a simple Digital Breakout just using Google Forms and inserting some images. This excellent video explains how to create “locked” Google Forms in a matter of minutes.

This page offers more video tutorials if you want to add some complexity to your Digital Breakout, such as embedding the form in a Google Site with pages for different clues. It also includes a crowd-sourced document of resources for making fun images and clues. Kari Augustine’s Breakout EDU Pinterest Board is another place that you can find ideas for generating interesting graphics and codes. A couple that I found over the weekend that I plan to try are:

2 thoughts on “Digital Breakout Tools”

I actually did not create this breakout, just found it online. I had to solve it myself using the clues on the pictures and links on that page. You can e-mail me at engagetheirminds@gmail.com if you want the answers I found.